Barrel for burnishing or the like



NOV- 7, 1933- w. R. HARTLEY 1,934,451

BARREL FOR BURNISHING OR THE LIKE Filed June 3, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 7, 1933- w. R. HARTLEY BARREL FOR BURNISHING OR THE LIKE Filed June 3, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 7, 1933. w. R. HARTLEY 1,934,461

BARREL FOR BURNISHING OR THE LIKE Filed June 3, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PrENr ori-"ICE,

BARREL FOR BURNISHING 0R THE LIKE William R. Hartley, New Haven, Conn. Application June 3, 1933. Serial No. 674,149 23Y Claims. (Cl. 51-164) This invention relates to improvements in barrels for burnishing or the like.

Burnishing, as at present carried out in burnishing barrels, is done by rotating the burnishing barrel, mostly filled with the parts to be burnished mixed with steel burnishing balls oi one or more sizes and/or burnishing cones. burnishing pins and burnishing slugs, together with soap solution.

The inside periphery of the barrel-member is usually octagonal in shape and formed by Wooden blocks. The inside end-surfaces of the bunishing barrel are usually formed of tlat Wood members. In burnishing barrels of this construction, the Wood surfaces give Vno substantial aid to burnishing action in the case of metal parts that are burnished, and atthe same time `Wear out fairly rapidly.

I have discovered that by forming the inside end-surfaces with suitable ribs, the speed of burnishingis greatlyV increased. I have also found that by forming the inside peripheral and end-surfaces of a suitable metal, such as copper, Monel metal, nickel or equivalent, the speed of burnishing is still further greatly increased, While at the same time resisting wear much better than Wood blocks. Y

I have also found that by providing the inside periphery of long types of burnishing barrels with op esitely-disposed longitudinalribs long parts such as rods, tubes and the like can be satisfactorily burnished Without n,giving the burnishing barrel any oscillating motion.

One object of thisinvention, therefore, is to provide burnishing barrels with ir proved forms of inside end-surfaces whereby the time required for burnishing is greatly reduced.

Another object is to provide burnishing barrels With an improved inside surface material whereby the time required for burnishin'g still further reduced.

Another' object is to provide burnishing barrels with an improved form of inside peripheral surface to make it unnecessary to use oscillating burnishing barrels.

Another object is to provide constructions formed of separate blocks adapted to be in` sei-ted in existing burnishing barrels, and ernbodying the improved surface forms and materials of this invention.

following description, appended claims and accompanying ydrawings forming a part of this specification. n f

In the accompanying drawings, in Which certain Ways of carrying out the invention are shown for illustrative purposes; y Fig. 1 is a central, vertical, sectional View of a high type of burnishing barrel embodying features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the barrel-inember shown in Fig. 1, With one end thereof removed; Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the end-member removed from the barrel-member of Fig. 2 and With two of the iller-vblocks omitted; v

Fig. 4 is an upper-side perspective view, With proportions exaggerated for clearness, of one of the sector-blocks used to form the end-surfaces of the barrel in Figs. 1, 2 and 3; k

Fig. 5 is an under-sidev perspective View of Fig. 4 from the opposite or pointed end thereof; Fig. 6 is a perspective View, With proportions exaggerated for clearness, of one oijthe fl1lerblocks used in connection with the sector-blocks;

Fig. '7 is an under-side perspective view of one of the headerf-blocks used to form the inside peripheral surface in Figs. 1 and 2;

l Fig. 8 isa fragmental, sectional view on the line 8- -8 of Fig. 2, with a hand-hole cover shown in position;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal, central, vertical sec- -tion similar to Fig. 1, of an ordinary long type o f burnishing barrel embodying features of this invention;

Fig. i0 is a perspective vvievv of three of the blocks used to form the inside peripheral surface of Fig. 9;

Y `Fig..11 is an end perspective view of a Baird long type burnishing barrel, modified to embody features of this invention;

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of assembled blocks forming the peripheral and inner end lining oi the burnishing barrel of Figli, looking at the rear or inner end thereof;

Fig. 13 is a plan View ofv a portion of the rear end of Fig. l2;

Fig. 14 is a rear view of ,blocks held in assembled relation by means of a jig to have joining-plates applied to the blocks to secure them in assembled relation;

Fig. l5 is a rear View of sector-blocks similar to Fig. 14, Without the jig and showingl a single plate for securing the sector-blocks in assembled relation, instead of the plurality of plates shown in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a central, sectional View of the door a group of sectorroo which nts the Baird barrel of Fig. 11 and has applied thereto an assembled unit of sectorblocks such as shown in Fig. l5 together with filler blocks;

Fig. 17 is an end elevation of a modified form of burnishing barrel made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 18 is an end elevation similar to Fig. 17 of a still further modified construction embodying features of this invention; and

Fig. 19 is a fragmental, perspective view of a portion of Fig. 18.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 of the drawings, 20 is a high type of burnishing barrel having trunnions 21 and 22 mounted in pillow-blocks 23 and 24 and having the trunnion 22 power-driven in any suitable manner. The barrel-member 25 is of general octagonal form and provided with opposite-end flanges 26 and 27. The barrel-niember 25 is lined with eight header-blocks 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35. With the exception of hand-hole header-blocks 28 and 32, all of the other blocks'are similar -to block 29, shown in perspective in Fig. 7.

In assembling the header-blocks 28 to 35 in position in the barrel-'member 25, the latter is laid upon one end resting on one of the flanges 26 or 27 and all the header-blocks except 32 are placed upright in their proper positions. A block 32 longitudinally tapered and of suitable size is then selected and driven into place to wedge or lock'all of the header-blocks firmly in position. Eight segmental or sector-blocks 36 will be laid together, with their backs 37 faced downward, opposite from that shown in Fig. 14, and a jig 3S will be placed thereover and screws 39 will be turned up to press the sector-blocks 36 together into a compact unit.v The assembled unit will then be turned over to the position shown in Fig. 14 and while thus held in assembled relation, the sector-blocks will be preferably permanently joined together by means of screws 40 taking through plates 41 for large diameter sector-block units, or screws 42 taking through a single plate 43 (Fig. 15) for small diameter sector-block units.

Sector-block units as thus formed can be thus assembled in burnishing barrels at the factory, or can be thus shipped to the user to be inserted in his hurnishing barrels.

A filler-block 46 is then placed 'at one end of each header-block and an assembled unit of sector-blocks is placed in position upon the fillerblocks, and an end-plate 44 or 45 is then bolted in place over the assembled unit of sectorblocks. Another assembled unit of sector-blocks, together with filler-blocks, is similarly applied to the other end of the burnishing barrel and secured in position by the other end-plate.

When the sector-blocks are arranged as an assembled unit, the edge-portion 47 of each sector-block engages underneath the surface 48 of an adjoining sector-block, thus providing an interlocking construction which aids in holding the sector-blocks in assembled relation.

The proportions of the sector and filler-blocks in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are somewhat exaggerated for clearness, the actual proportions being more nearly like is shown' in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. v Referring to Fig. 4 for clearness I have found that with the left thin end of the sector-block about one-half inch thick, the right thick end about two inches thick, and the width of the widest portion of upper surface 51 about fourteen and seven-eighths inches, and the general proportions as appears in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, that satisfactory' results are obtained.

When the end-plates 44 and 45 are firmly fastened in position, they press down against the upper surfaces 49 of the filler-blocks and cause the underneath surfaces 50 of the fillerblocks to press down upon the gradually sloping upper surfaces 51 of the sector-blocks, thus causing the filler-blocks to slide downwardly along the sloping surfaces 51 until theend-surfaces 52 of the filler-blocks engage against the abrupt surfaces 53 of adjacent sector-blocks. When in operative position, the upper surfaces 49 of the filler-blocks 46 will be generally parallel with the under surfaces 51 of the sector-blocks.

It will thus be seen that pressure upon the top surfaces 49 of the filler-blocks makes them act as wedges to press the sector-blocks downwardly and have a spreading and jamming action against them to secure them rmly in position.

It will be observed from Figs. l to 3 that the sector-blocks at the opposite ends of the burnishing barrel are rights and lefts respectively to each other, so that the abrupt surfaces 53 at each end of the barrel are directed inwardly toward the labrupt surfaces at the opposite end.

-Each of the two hand-hole blocks 28 and 32 will have its hand-hole closed during operation, by a cover-block 54 (Fig. 8) secured by stove bolts 55 to a cover-plate 56 held pressed against aliquid-tight gasket 57 by means of a lockingbar 58 pivoted at 59 on the plate 56 to be swung into locking position underneath cams 60 at opposite ends of the barrel-member 25 -on the flanges 26 and 27.

The various blocks forming the inside surfaces of the burnishing barrel will be accurately made so as to have a good nt at their meeting surfaces.

For use in burnishing what is spoken of in the art as plastics or plastic articles, as distinguished from articles inadeof metal, th'e operative surfaces of the blocks forming the inside surfaces of the burnishing barrel made in accordance with this invention will be preferably formed of Wood. But for burnishing metal articles, the exposed surfaces of the various blocks which come in contact with articles being burnished will be covered with sheet copper, Monel metal, nickel or equivalent. I have found for this purpose that 14-gauge half-hard' sheet copper gives exceptionally good results, together with moderate cost. Preferably, the sheet metal willlap somewhatbeyond the actual operative or burnishing surfaces of the blocks, so as to be engaged and firmly held by pressure of adjoining members. The sheet metalmay be secured on the blocks'in various ways, depending upon the shape of the blocks to be covered and the conditions to be met. In some instances, tacks or nails may be used as an aid, and. in other instances they will be unnecessary. v

After a burnishing barrel is once set up in acioo cordance with this invention as disclosed in Figs.

1 to 8, it will ordinarily be operated merely by taking out one or another of the cover-blocks 54 for the purpose of emptying and filling the barrel, in carrying out commercial burnishing operations.

In carrying out burnishing in accordance with the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8, the burnishing barrel will be rotated anti-clockwise (Fig 2) with the mass of articles to be burnished, together with soap solution, burnishing balls and cones, pins, slugs, depending upon the conditions, lling the burnishing barrel to well above its center axis.

As the burnishing barrel rotates anti-clockwise, the mass of articles, balls, etc., do not follow the barrel in its rotation, but tend to more or less maintain a position of non-rotation, due to the relative small friction between the parts and balls and surfaces of the burnishing barrel. Thus, as the inner end-surfaces formed bythe sector-blocks rotate, the ribs formed by the abrupt surfaces 53 of the sector-blocks plow into the mass of articles, balls, etc., stirring them considerably and causing them to rub against one another, and at the same time crowding them toward one another and toward the center of the barrel. Then, as the abrupt surfaces pass a given point, the articles, balls, etc., tend to surge back in the direction of the opposite ends again, thus disturbing the whole inner mass of articles, balls, etc., and causing them to rub upon one another and become burnished. Due to there being some friction, however, of the inner surfaces of the burnishing barrel upon the mass of articles, balls, etc., a certain amount of rotation of the mass takes place, although at a distinctly-lower average rate of speed than the speed of the burnishing barrel. Nevertheless, the rotation of the mass which does take place causes a iiowing or rolling over action along the upper portion of the mass, and as the articles,` balls, etc., along the upper portion of the-mass slide from their rear high position to their forward lower and downwardly-traveling position, those at the opposite ends of the burnishing barrel slide and roll along the gently-tapered surfaces 51 of the sector-blocks, which thus aid in the burnishing action both by their contact with the articles'being burnished and by crowding the latter inwardly away from the opposite ends ofthe barrel.

It will be appreciated that barrels made in accordance with my invention can be used not only for the particular type of inishing operation known as burnishing, but also for other finishing operations such as cleaning, cutting down, polishing, etc. The materials to be placed in the barrel tol accomplish such finishing operations will, of course, vary, depending on the particular type of operation and other factors, all as is well understood in the art.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, wherein an ordinary long type of burnishing barrel is illustrated, the inner' endsurfaces 61 and 62 of the burnishing barrel 63 are formed'in the same manner as those illustrated in the high type barrel in Figs. l to 8. But the header-blocks are made different. Instead of being of the same thickness throughout their length, the header-blocks 64, 65, 66, etc., are thicker at one end than the other and are arranged so that alternate header-blocks slope oppositely lengthwise of the burnishing barrel. I have found that such header-blocks made 2" thick at one end and 1/2 thick at the opposite end give satisfactory results. With this type of construction, in addition to the double action or the high type burnishing barrel of Figs. l to 8, wherein the burnishing action may be said to have double burnishingaction, due to the rotary motion and endwise agitation of the rib surfaces formed bythe sector-blocks, the oppositely--sloped header-blocks ci Figs. 9 and 10 add a third cr oscillating-action effect, thus producing what may be called a triple burnishing action in this type of barrel.

This long type of barrel is primarily intended ci construction of this type of for burnishin'g long metal parts such as tubes, rods and the. like, and the oppositely-sloped header-blocks produce an oscillating-action effect which accomplishes substantially all that is accomplished by the oscillating type of burnishing barrel wherein the entire burnishing barrel is given an endwise oscillation as it rotates. This,

important result is accomplished by the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 without giving any oscillating action whatever to the barrel as a unit, the oscillating effect being produced by the oppositely-sloping ribs formed by the oppositely-sloped header-blocks.

The insidek surfaces of this long type burnishing barrel will beformed of wood or metal in a ,similar manner' and for similar uses as in the case of the high type burnishing barrel, previously described.v

In the form vof the invention illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, 67 represents a long type burnishing barrel of the particular type ,known as the Bairdburnishing barrel. This type of burnishing barrel has a shaft 68 suitably firmly mounted for rotation and having a yoke 69 pivotallyengaged at 70 with the barrel 67. In this form of burnishing barrel 67, the inner or rear end is ordinarily formed integral with the barrel, and the open end 71,of the barrel is provided with acover 72 (Fig. 16) adapted to beheld bolted on to the end 71 of thebarrel while burnishing action is taking place, and to be removed for emptying and' iilling the barrel.`

The pivots 70 ordinarily are held locked while burnishing action is taking place, but can be released for the purpose of permitting the barrel 67 to be tilted for emptying and filing the same. Y This long type of barrel is modified in accordance with the principles of my invention to produce results similar to the ordinary long type barrel shown in Figs. 9 and 10. Details are changed, however, in View of the particular form barrel. The

header-blocks 72, 73, 74, etc., are made substantially the same as thel corresponding headerblocks 64, 65, 66, etc., of the tion shown in Figs. 9 and 10, with the exception that the four alternate header-blocks 72, 74, etc., at the door end only, are provided with slots 75 fora purpose to be later described.

In this construction illustrated in Figs. 11,112 and 13, IV preferably provide` the outside surfaces of the header-blocks with grooves 77 and place the blocks in assembled relation by means of a jig, and then place a band of metal 78 around the assembled header-blocks thereof, and secure this band 78 in position by means of screws 79.` An assembled unit or" sectorblocks is then placed uponone end of the assembled header-blocks, with filler-blocks between as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 and screws 80 are then inserted to hold theheader, sectorform of the invenand filler-blocks all together as an assembled unit. This unit is then slid endwise burnishing barrel 67 (Fig. 1l) and the slots` 75, which may be 5 Vwide and 4 long for example, then have suitable wedges driven therein and into4 the and inthe grooves 77 7 cut off nush, to spread the outer ends of the four y header-blocks 72, 74, etc., to lock the 'entire unit in position in the barrel.

` The cover or door 72` (Fig. 16) assembled unit of sector-blocks secured thereto by means of stove-bolts 81. In this form ofthe invention, the ller-blocks at the door end will preferably be held in assembled position upon the sector-blocks on the-door k72 by means of then has an 1H- screws or the like, in a way that will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

The operative or burnishing surfaces of the blocks in this form of the invention will be of wood or metal, similarly to the forms of the invention previously described, depending upon the circumstances.

Fig. 17 illustrates an end view of a modified form of the invention in which a barrel-member 82 is formed without any separate header-blocks, but is cast or otherwise formed with longitudinally-parallel corrugations or ribs 83 for use in the high type burnishing barrel illustrated in Figs. l and 2, instead of the octagonally-arranged surfaces formed by the separate header-blocks.

I have found that forming the corrugations of such size and spacing that the distance from the center of the crest of one rib to the center of the crest of adjacent ribs is about four inches, gives very satisfactory results.

The end-surfaces to be used in conjunction with form of peripheral surface shown in Figs. 17 or 18 wiil preferably be formed of similar shape to the surfaces formed by the sector-blocks in Figs. l, 2 and 3, but these ribbed end-surfaces will preferably be formed as a single unit, and may be cast or otherwise formed.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, the barrel-member 84 will be cast or otherwise formed with longitudinal alternately-oppositely-sloping ribs or corrugations 85, 86, etc. In this construction, the rib 85, for example, is convex at the left end, and the radius of its convex surface gradually enlarges until approximately midway of its length, thev surface changes to slightly concave and gradually becornes more concave toward the opposite end 85. The oppositely-sloping rib 85 changes similarly from convex at the right end to concave at the left end 86.

This forni of barrel-member is used Vin place of the separate, oppositely-sloping header-block construction of Figs. 9 to 13 for producing results similar thereto.

tIhe invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

l. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each provided with ribs, each of the ribs on eachY end extending toward and being complemental to a corresponding rib on the opposite end and constituting therewith a pair of coniplernental ribs, and each rib of each pair of complemental ribs having substantially the same space relation to an axial plane of the barrel.

2. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each provided with radial ribs, each of the ribs on each end extending toward and being coinpleniental to a corresponding `rib on the opposite end and constituting therewith a pair of compleinental ribs, and each rib of each pair of complemental ribs lying substantially in an axial plane of the barrel. l

3. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each provided with'radial ribs each having an abrupt surface increasing in width toward the periphery of the barrel.

4. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each provided with radial ribs,'each of the ribs on each end extending toward and being complemental to a corresponding rib on the opposite end and constituting therewith a pair of complemental ribs, and each rib of each pair of complemental ribs lying substantially in an axial plane of the barrel, and its inside peripheral surface provided with peripheral ribs extending/longitudinally of the barrel.

5. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each provided with ribs and its inside peripheral surface provided with peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel, the alternate .peripherall ribs sloping oppositely away from the axis of the barrel and longitudinally of the barrel.-

6. A rotarygbarrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each provided with ribs and its inside peripheral surface provided witl peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel, the alternate peripheral ribs sloping oppositely away from the axis of the barrel and longitudinally of the barrel, the ends of the peripheral ribs nearest said axis being convex and the opposite ends of said p eripheral ribs being concave. v

f '7. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces eachforrned by separate blocks forming ribs. f

8. A irotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed by interlocked separate blocks forming ribs. y

9. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed by separate blocks forming ribs, the rib surfaces of the ribs being of suitable metal.V j

10. A rotary barrel of the class describedhaving its inside end surfaces each formed by separateblocks forming ribs, the blocks being of wood or equivalent and having their rib surfaces covered with suitable metal. y

11. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed by sector-blocks constituting ribs, and filler-blocks on said sector-blocks adjacent the periphery of the sector -blocks.

12. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed by sector-blocks, each sector-block constituting a rib having two rib surfaces, and a filler-block on a rib surface of each sector-block adjacent the periphery of the sector-block and engaging against a rib surface on an adjacent sector-block.

13. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed by sectorblocks, each sector-block constituting a rib having a gradually-sloped surface and an abrupt surface, and a filler-block on the gradually-sloped surface of each sector-block adjacent the periphery of the sector-block and engaging against the abrupt surface of an adjacent sector-block.

14.1A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each provided with end ribs and its inside peripheral surface formed by separate blocks forming peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel, the alternate peripheral ribs sloping oppositely away from the laxis of the barrel and longitudinally of the barrel.

Y 15. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed `by separate blocks forming end-ribs, and its inside peripheral surface` formed by separate blocks forming peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel.

16. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed by separate blocks forming end-ribs, and its inside peripheral surface formed by separate blocks forming peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel, the alternate peripheral ribs sloping oppositely away from the axis of the barrel and longitudinally of the barrel.

17. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed by separate blocks forming end-ribs, and its inside peripheral surface. formed by separate blocks forming peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel, the alternate peripheral ribs sloping oppositely away from the axis or" the barrel and longi tudinally of the barrel, the rib surfaces of the end and peripheral ribs being of suitable metal.

i8. A rotary barrel of the class described having its inside end surfaces each formed by separate blocks forming end-ribs, and its inside peripheral surface formed by separate blocks forming peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel, the alternate peripheral ribs sloping oppositely away from the axis of the barrel and longitudinally of the barrel, the end-rib blocks and peripheral rib blocks being of Wood or equivalent and having their rib surfaces covered with suitable metal.

19. A rotaiy barrel for burnishing or the like having its inside end surfaces each provided with ribs extending toward the periphery of the barrel, each rib having an abrupt surface increasing in Width toward the periphery of the barrel and a less abrupt surface increasing in Width toward the periphery of the barrel.

20. A rotary barrel for burnishing or the like having its inside end surfaces each provided with ribs extending toward the periphery of the barrel, each rib having an abrupt surface increasing in width toward the periphery of the barrel and a less abrupt surface intersecting said abrupt surface and increasing in width toward the periphery ci the barrel, the maximum width of said less abrupt surface being considerably greater than the maximum width of said abrupt surface.

21. A rotary barrel for burnishing or the like having its inside end surfaces each provided with ribs extending toward the periphery of the barrel, each rib having an abrupt surface increasing in Width toward the periphery of the barrel and a less abrupt surface intersecting the top of said abrupt surface and also intersecting the bottom of the abrupt surface of the next adjacent rib and increasing in Width toward the periphery of the barrel, the maximum width of said less abrupt surface being considerably greater than the maximum width of said abrupt surface.

22. A rot-ary barrel for burnishing or the like having its inside peripheral surface provided with peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel, the alternate ribs sloping oppcsitely away from the axis of the barrel and longitudinally of the barrel.

23. A rotary barrel for burnishing or the like having its inside peripheral surface provided with peripheral ribs extending longitudinally of the barrel, the alternate ribs sloping oppositely away from the axis of the barrel and longitudinally of the barrel, the ends of the peripheral ribs nearest said axis being convex and the opposite end of said peripheral ribs being concave.

WILLIAM R. HARTLEY. 

